Dizzy stopped turning

skryla

skryla

Senior Member
1931 Ford Roadster Deluxe with B diamond engine.

I have been trying to get this car back on the road after sitting in a garage for over 10 years. Did the whole vinegar fulsh in the tank - squeaky clean.

I was running it, it started to blow steam out of the bird on the radiator. I flushed the radiator while the engine was running - squeaky clean.

I was running it down the road at 30mph in 2nd gear, made a right, carb overflowed and the engine died. I tore the carb down and cleaned it up.

She wouldn't start. No spark. Checked the points and noticed that the distributor was not turning.

Any easy fixes first? Diagnostics? Done for the day but getting ideas for tomorrow.
 
Distributor not turning could be the distributor shaft broken, or could be the timing gear has gone by-by. There are other things as well, but those would be the most likely suspects.
 
Has the distributor been oiled on a regular basis? I'd pull the distributor and see what the shaft looks like. As Carl said, the tang may be broken from the distributor shaft being frozen due to lack of lubrication.

You can also use the timing pin to see if you can feel the cam rotating.
 
R&R = Remove & Replace.

Distributor shaft is easiest to check by just removing the distributor. If all the slots and tangs are in tact, move on to the Timing Gear. Checking to see if it's turning could be done thru the timing pin hole. Replacing it requires removing the front cover, and the timing gear itself takes a special wrench. Check out the procedure in the Andrews red book.

(Tom is a faster typer than am I!)
 
if the dist shaft is good than youll be r&i = remove & install

easier to see if cam gear is turning first
 
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It's funny because my wife says she feels bad for me that my new toy is broken. I told her it's one of the best days I've had in a long time. I love the simplicity of this car. I just wish I didn't have to push it up the inclined driveway tomorrow. Could just be the excuse I've been looking for to put the fresh B motor in. Like to get this one running first. It was running great before it broke
 
skryla said:
Any suggestions for either repair?
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Take the side timing cover off and see if it the timing gear turns.

side.jpg
f488_1.jpg
 
You do not need to pull the gear cover to see if the timing gear turns. Just unscrew the timing pin, press it in and hand crank. Feel anything? If you stick the gear with an ice-pick through the hole you will (or not!!) feel movement instantly, no need to wait for the timing detent.
 
Was going to suggest removing a sparkplug & seeing if the the valves move when you crank it but the timing gear pin idea might work too.
 
Thanks to all that replied. The timing gear was the culprit. Looks like I'll have to sell the engine as non running for now
 
skryla said:
Thanks to all that replied. The timing gear was the culprit. Looks like I'll have to sell the engine as non running for now
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Wow, that's like cutting off your leg because you stub your toe.:eek:
Why not install a new gear. It's a pretty easy job.:)
 
skryla said:
Thanks to all that replied. The timing gear was the culprit. Looks like I'll have to sell the engine as non running for now
Click to expand...

For under 100.00 (includes timing gear and cam nut removal tool) and a few hours you're done and the engine runs. It can be done in the car, I've done it. Takes less time then replacing the engine.
 
I forgot to mention that I have a fresh high performance B engine sitting on a pallet ready to install. Was going to wait until the fall to install
 
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